COMICS DELIVER COMFORT
Store owner doing his part to help children experiencing tough times
Lee Pearson believes in the healing power of comics.
Pearson remembers being a kid and his father bringing him a stack of new comics whenever he was sick. Each story transported Pearson into a new world, bringing a smile to his face and melting away his troubles.
Now he aims to bring that feeling to everyone who steps through the door of Bridge City Comics and Collectibles.
Pearson spent most of his working life as a labourer on various job sites, but he never felt it was his true calling. So, when given the opportunity to retrain, he took an entrepreneurship course and channelled his lifelong love into the ultimate hangout for any comic fan.
“I feel community is so important,” he said. “And that’s another reason I wanted to do this, because the pop culture community is so awesome. I wanted to have a workplace that felt like home and here I am.”
Another aspect of community that drives Pearson is the opportunity to give back. After learning about a program called ComicBooks For Kids! Pearson knew it was the perfect opportunity to give sick kids the same sense of healing through comics that he experienced. Pearson personally delivers comics to kids at the Ronald McDonald House, Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program and Royal University Hospital.
“There are days when the store wasn’t doing so well and knowing I was making a positive change for those kids was the only thing that made it worth it some days,” he said. “It feels like I’m collecting smiles.”
Pearson’s collection of smiles grows whenever someone walks through the door to inspect the vast wall of comics — both rare and fresh off the press — numerous Pop! figures, and more items adorning the shop walls. It’s a collector’s paradise — and if you can beat him at a round of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit he’s likely to cut you a great deal.
“When I can see a guy my age come in here and I can revert him to his eight-year-old self by showing him a comic he had back then — it really makes it all worthwhile.”
BRIDGE CITY COMICS AND COLLECTIBLES
Owner: Lee Pearson
Address: 120-220 Betts Avenue Hours: Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m. Website: www.bridgecitycomics.ca Phone: 306-974-2010
Check Facebook
Comfort was the key word when doctors Sheila Bonnett and Kim Baker decided to relocate their practice and create a new familyfriendly space that caters to the wellness needs of everyone from newborn babies to those enjoying their golden years.
“We wanted it to feel like you were coming into our living room and not into a clinical, cold setting,” Baker said.
Bonnett agreed.
“We designed it like we would have designed our home.”
Moving into the Marquis Industrial neighbourhood gave them the space they needed to see that dream become reality — and with the opening of the Chief Mistawasis bridge close on the horizon, it will be an easy journey for anyone to make it in for an appointment.
Not only does the pair offer chiropractic treatments, Baker is also trained in medically based acupuncture and soon their practice will welcome new staff members — one specializing in traditional Chinese acupuncture, cupping therapy, Moxibustion therapy and Qigong, and the others specializing in massage therapy.
As soon as a patient walks through the doors, every aspect of their treatment is personalized to exactly what they need to feel better at that moment in time. It all starts with an online form outlining the problems the patient is experiencing. Once arriving at the clinic, patients undergo a physical examination, orthopedic tests and a neurological screening so the team can come up with a proper diagnosis and create a tailor-made plan for recovery.
“It’s more than the ‘rack ’em, crack ’em’ that most people associate with chiropractors,” Bonnett said. “We have hundreds of different techniques under the umbrella of chiropractic and no two people will be treated the same. It’s gentle, safe and effective — however we can reduce those subluxations and improve the function of your nervous system, that’s what we’re going with.”
YXE FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE
Owner: Sheila Bonnett and Kim Baker
Address: 10-3902 Miller Avenue Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Website: www.yxechiro.ca Phone: 306-978-7777 Check Facebook and Instagram
Erin Petrow is a reporter at The StarPhoenix. If you have started, expanded or moved a small business in Saskatoon within the last few months, contact her at epetrow@postmedia.com Home-based and temporary businesses, as well as those without physical locations, will not be considered for publication. Follow Erin on Twitter @petr0w